The National Election Committee on Tuesday rejected a referendum bid by independent MP Ákos Hadházy concerning the government’s communications, PR and advertising activities.

Hadházy’s referendum questions were aimed at new legislation regulating the PR activities of the government and its agencies as well as restricting advertisements “promoting” the government. He also sought a ban on adverts “inciting hatred or discrimination”.

The committee voted against all three questions, saying that they were not clearly worded and were too complex or misleading. Also, the referendum would require a constitutional amendment concerning the government’s right to provide information, it added.

Under the law, referendums cannot be aimed at constitutional changes.

The committee also argued that effective legislation contains bans on activities inciting hatred and discrimination.

The committee’s decision can be appealed against at the Kúria, Hungary’s supreme court, within 15 days.